Trailer construction



ug. 9, 1949. R, D, WHALEN ETAL 2,478,795

TRAILER CONSTRUCTION INVENTOR-S Richard D Whalan Elx/man 55mg BYow/ZATTORLEYS.

Au|g.9,1949.v v R. D. WHALEN mL 2,478,795Y

TRAILER CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 7, 194e l s sheets-s eet 2 cw lINVENToRs @1lhard [lWl-na lan .Ewan 512.1 A

Aug. 9, 1949. R. D. wHALEN ETAI. 2,478,795

i TRAILER CONSTRUCTION FifledAug. 7, 1946 s sheets-sheet s ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITED STATES-ff PATENT. OFFICE 'TRAILERCQlVSTRUCTION Richard D. Whalen andi/Swan Berg, Tampa, Fla. n AAlaplication August 7, 1946, Serial No. .689.016

This invention relates to improvements in trailer'constructions.Y

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedtrailer construction including a chassis which may with facility be elezvated and lowered for the purpose of conveniently elevating and loweringloads.

The usual manner ofY loading trailers is to either tilt the trailer andskid the load on the 2 Claims. (Cl. 280-43) trailer, or by some outsidemechanical means to i lift the load and place it upon the trailer. Themethod of skidding the load onto the trailer is cumbersome anddiiiicult, especially with heavy loads, and loading a trailer with ahoist requires additional equipment and expense. It is there- 1 fore anobject of the present invention to provide a very practical and compactassemblage by means of which a single individual will lbe able toconveniently load a trailer.

A further object of thisinvention is theprovision of an improved'boattrailer including a chassis frame which may be lowered conveniently forthe purpose of elevating aload.

Other objects and advantages of this invention y will be apparentfromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, andinwhichv 'drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view. of the improved trailer incarrying or transporting position.

Figure 2 is -a side elevation of the trailer showing the same intransporting position.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the trailer showing the chassis framelowered for loading or unloading.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken through parts of the trailersubstantially on the line 4-4 ofFigure5. y

Figure 5 is afragmentary view showing a detachable clamping arrangement.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view showing a connection of an improved axlestructure to the chassis irameornitsspring.

Figure 7 is a `cross sectional view taken through the bearing of theaxle structure upon a spring of the chassis frame.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown but apreferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A generally designatesthe improved trailer construction, which includes a loading or chassisframe structure B having an improved mounting and axle structure C towhich the running wheels D are connected.

The chassis frame structure B is optional as to arrangement.

Preferably it is elongated and s Iconsists'ofY side rails I0 and IIforwardly convergent and connected4 toa coupling I2 which may connectthetrailer'to the sourceof power.

The rails I0 `and II at their rear ends are conf nected by a cross'barI4 of a U-shap'ed construction including a cross bar 'proper which mayrest upon the ground when the chassis trame is lowered and upstandingleg extensions such as shown in Figure 2 .which areY Welded or-otherwisesecured to the ends ofthe rails'l and II. Similarly another U-shapedcross b-ar structure Ida may be connected `forwardly of the running gearolf the tractor. In fact anyv desired number of these cross barstructuresv may .be provided.

The axle structure C preferably'consists of side lever arms and 2Iand across bar 22. The

Across bar is suitably connectedby bearing struc- Vtures 25, to besubsequentlydescribed, either directly to the chassis rails I0 and II orto bowed leaf spring structures 26 which may be attached to each of therails I0 and I I.

The side portions20 and 2| of the U-shaped axle are preferably .providedwith outwardly extending spindles 30 and 3l,irespective1y, to which Ithe running wheels D are connected in usual manner. The lever portions20v and 2l of the U-shaped axle C are disposed outwardly in spacedrelation withrespect tov the frame members I0 and II. At their most.forward ends the'portions l2l) and 2| maybe connected to the rails Il!and I I by suitable detachable connections Ml (shown in Figs. 4 and 5)to be subsequently described.

` (Referring to 'the bearing mounting of the axle structure C, the leafsprings 26 are connected by suitable shackles to the respective railsIll and I I As more particularly shown in Figures `6 and '7 of thedrawings, the springs 26 are each provided rwith bearing plates 5I)having barreled housings 5I welded or fotherwise secured thereto anddepending therefrom. The plates '50 are suitably. connected byU-shaped-*bolts 54 and a center bolt 55 to the springs 2li` in a mannerwell understood in the art to which this invention relates. Thebarrel-shaped housing 5I receives therein roller bearings bearing uponthe cross bar 22 of the U-shaped axle and. each held in place by a splitlock ring 6I and a ring 62 welded 'or otherwise secured to the portion22. A suitable axle stop 10 may be welded or otherwise secured to theaxial portion 22 to definitely locate the bearing structures.

Referring to the clamping means dil, the rail portions I0 and II areeach provided with rigidly connected iianged extensions 80, such asshown caravans in Figure 4 and elsewhere transversely provided with aslot therein. Upon the lever portions 20 and 2| of the axle structure,at the outer ends thereof, are also provided complementary aperturedflanged extensions 8|. The coupling 40 includes a crank arm 82 having ascrew threaded shank 83 adapted to extend through the openings in theflanges 8o and 8|, as shown in Figure 4, and a nut 85 is adjustable onthe shank 83. Of course aspac'ih'g Washer 8"6 'may be provided, if sodesired. The 'slots in the 'arms -20 and 2| enable proper springoperation, since the bolt 82 and its nut 83 need not be tightly clampedupon the anges 80 and 8|. V n

Referring to the mode of operation, 'if it is desired to load, theconnections 40 areremoved and the chassis ls lowered upon the ground tothe position shown in Figure 3. 'The cross "rails I4 and Ma rest uponthe ground surface and the load may be readily skidded upon the crossrails or upon the `chassis without fmuch effort. This arrangement willbe particularly advantageous in connection withfload-ing and unloadingboats in wateiysince the loading-and unloading-may be accomplished invery -shallow 'water wherethere is less chance -of Vbagging and wavesare light. When vthe load is placed upon the chassis it is .erelynecessary for the 'operatorto press downwardly upon -thelever arms 20and 2| yoi the axle structure. This will elevate the load,particularlyat the running gearof -the trailer. The lever arms 2o and =2.| are then`clamped to the frame rails le and by :the means 40 above described, andthe front endiof theftrailermay'be ylifted and connected tothe'source'of transportation fpower.

We would like-it'unders'tood that itis not'essie'ntial to providethespringmraiigeinentshown and the bearing `arrangement may 'be 'altered"to suit. The proportion lof leverage `tvith 'respect to the spindle'centers ymayv'ary ltosuit. "Inthe arrangement shown the dimensions oftlever'arms'2il and 2| from the spindles'to the 'connections 4|l`is inproportion of ab'outtwicefthelength to thedistance of the Yspindles'tothefspiiig'connect'ed cross 'bar 22.

ing from `the fspiritoffthe infvention or the ysc'ope of the followingclaims.

We claim:

1. In a Aloadreceivingand transporting trailer, the combination of avertically reciprocating trailer chassis having Vfro'nt andrea'r ends; asubstantial U-shaped'mountingl-'and -axle structure, including elongatedside llever-arms, having Vfree ends, anda cross -bar `joining said arms;`bearing means for'the Vcross bar; y'means connecting the bearing meansAto the chassis, adjacent fsaid rear end; running wheels; meansrotatably mounting said wheels on said lever arms intermediate thelengths thereof, including spindles extending out wardly from said leverarms, with the longitudinal axes of said spindles extending beneath saidchassis when said chassis is in a raised, loadtransporting position andextending above said chassis when said chassis is in a lowered, loadreceiving position; means for detachably connectling the free ends ofsaid lever arms to said chassis when ksaid axes 'are in saidfirst-namedpositions, and means limiting reciprocation of said chassis to itslowered position, including cross bars depending from said chassis, saidaxes being above the axes of said last-named cross bars when `saidchassis-islinsaid load-receiving position, the

free ends of saidlever arms extending above the horizontal 'planeo'isaid chassis when said chassis is in its lowered position.

2. In a load receiving vand transporting trailer, the -combination of a(vertically reciprocating trailer chassis having front andirearends;asubstantial -U-shaped 'mounting and axle structure, including elongatedside :lever farms, ehaving -free ends, and 1a ycross sbar `:joining.said arms; bearing means for 'the lcross iban; `means `connecting thebearing means to thechassis.adiacentsaid =rear end; running wheels;means jrotatably mounting said wheels on-said lever armsV intermediatethe 'lengths'thereoiflncluding lspindlesext'ending outwardlyv from saidlever arms.withtheilongitudinal axes of said spindles Aextending beneathsaid chassis 'when s'aid chassis fis in `-a raised, load-- transportingposition :and extending 'above Asaid chassis whenfsaid 'chassis Vis dn-fa lowered, 'iloadreceivinglp'ositionmeansifor detachably connecty ingthe'free-'endsof'saidleverffarms to said chassis when said axesfareiinsaidsfirst-namedpositions, and means limiting ifeciprocatin'of-'said'chassis vto -its lowered iposition, iin'cluding lcross fbars1depending 'from fs'aicl chassis-said 'axes' being above the axesofi-saidlastsnamed cross bars when said chassis is ins'aidiloadseceivingposition, the free 'ends of saidle'verarmsrextendingabove the ihori- `zontal pla'ne of said chassis a'ndStorming :acute angles with :said chassis fwhenisaid chassis "is iin itslowered lposition.

iarcnieannwHALEN.

SWAN-BERG.

"R'REES 'crean The foilewiiigireferencesTere f record finthe

